The year 2020 proved to be a rough time for small business owners, but Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico have found a way to keep pressing forward.
The husband and wife team of restaurant owners recently opened up their new venture Pivot Coffee and Soupery at 738 S. 11th St. The new establishment is the sixth owned by the married couple and set up shop next-door to their restaurant Hawthornes. Fetfatzes and Annechiarico also own South Street establishments Wine Dive, Tio Flores and The Cambridge as well as Quick Sip on Fitzwater Street.
Pivot Coffee and Soupery combines many areas of expertise from the married couple, as its new concept is part coffee shop, part soupery, part wine shop and part bake shop — all rolled into one grand new cafe.
It features mostly outdoor dining, which includes a heated, igloo bubble where patrons can watch snowflakes fall during the winter months while sipping on a warm beverage. The owners kept this concept in mind as they’ve seen first-hand how many restaurant staff members’ lives have been affected during the pandemic due to restrictions on indoor dining.
“Pivot Coffee and Soupery is designed as the ultimate pivot for our family and all of our employees,” said Fetfatzes. “We spent months looking ahead, seeing where the trends are going, watching the data and talking to our team about what we could do to keep everyone employed and things operating through next summer at the very least. Pivot involved the installation and construction on the front of the building and a major shift inside as well. The all-encompassing take-out window is inviting, and we hope will make everyone feel safe and comfortable.”
Pivot will offer plenty more than just a cup of Joe. The newly opened establishment’s menu features a special exclusive semi-bitter Guatemalan blend of One Village Coffee with chocolate notes that Fetfatzes and Annechiarico personally helped create and is available only at Pivot and Hawthornes. The drink menu also includes coffee, espresso, americano, cappuccino, latte, Vietnamese coffee, hot tea and specialty drinks. All coffee drinks are priced between $2 and $4.50 to remain affordable and help best serve the neighborhood during these tough times.
Drinks can also be spiked for only $5 with Cappelletti, Ancho Reyes Poblana Liquer, Green Chartreuse, J. Rieger Caffe Amaro, Irish Cream Liqueur, Beet Infused Scotch and Evan Williams Bib Bourbon.
“We designed Pivot to create the ultimate coffee shop and cafe experience that sets ourselves apart from others — and combines many things that we have to work with,” Fetfatzes said. “Pivot brings together the best of Hawthornes’ kitchen, and marries it with baked goods from one of Philly’s best bakers and pastry chefs. Our liquor license and access to expansive inventory through Quick Sip allows us to offer boozy hot drinks, holiday cocktails and, of course, 150-plus well-priced bottles of wine to go.”
And it also can satisfy your food cravings.
Pivot pastries and breakfast and lunch sandwiches are provided by chef Dan Tang of Sugar Philly. And a rotating soup menu will keep visitors on their toes for exciting choices and combinations.
“You can literally get a spiked hot chocolate, bottle of wine, loaded egg sandwich, a chowder, a griddled and buttered corn muffin and a Bloody Mary for take away all at the same time,” Fetfatzes said. “I really haven’t seen any coffee shop do or have the range we can offer. We are pretty excited and can’t wait to share our vision with everyone.”
